The Condemnation of the Unrighteous

1:18Forthe wrathof Godis revealedfromheavenagainstallungodlinessandunrighteousnessof people39who suppressthe truthbytheir40 unrighteousness,411:19becausewhat can be knownabout Godisplaintothem,42becauseGodhas madeit plainto them.1:20Forsincethe creationof the worldhisinvisible attributes– hiseternalpoweranddivine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people43 are without excuse.1:21Foralthough they knewGod, they didnotglorifyhim asGodorgivehim thanks, butthey became futileintheirthoughtsandtheirsenselesshearts44were darkened.1:22Although they claimed45to bewise, they became fools1:23andexchangedthe gloryof the immortalGodforan imageresemblingmortalhuman beings46orbirdsorfour-footed animals47orreptiles.

2:1Therefore67you arewithout excuse,68whoever you are,69 when you judgesomeone else.70 Foron whatever grounds71 you judgeanother, you condemnyourself, becauseyouwho judgepracticethe same things.2:2Nowwe knowthatGod’sjudgmentisin accordance withtruth72againstthose who practicesuch things.2:3Anddo you think,73whoever you are, when you judge74those who practicesuch thingsand yetdothemyourself,75thatyou will escapeGod’sjudgment?2:4Ordo you have contemptfor the wealthof hiskindness, forbearance, andpatience, and yet do not know76thatGod’skindnessleadsyoutorepentance?2:5Butbecause ofyourstubbornness77andyour unrepentantheart, you are storing upwrathfor yourselvesinthe dayof wrath, when God’srighteous judgmentis revealed!782:6He79will reward80each oneaccording tohisworks:812:7eternallifeto those who byperseverancein goodworksseekgloryandhonorandimmortality,2:8but82wrathandangerto those who live inselfish ambition83anddo not obeythe truthbutfollow84unrighteousness.2:9There will be85 afflictionanddistressoneveryone86who doesevil, on the Jewfirstandalsothe Greek,872:10but88gloryandhonorandpeacefor everyonewho doesgood, forthe Jewfirstandalsothe Greek.2:11Forthere isnopartialitywithGod.2:12Forallwho have sinnedapart from the law89willalsoperish apartfrom the law, and all who have sinnedunder the law will be judgedbythe law.2:13Forit is notthose who hearthe lawwho are righteousbeforeGod, butthose who dothe lawwill be declared righteous.902:14Forwheneverthe Gentiles,91who donothavethe law, doby nature92the things required by the law,93thesewho do nothavethe lawarea lawto themselves.2:15They94 showthat the workof the lawis written95intheirhearts, as theirconsciencebears witnessandtheir conflicting thoughtsaccuseorelsedefend96them,972:16onthe daywhen Godwill judge98the secretsof humanhearts,99 according tomygospel100throughChristJesus.

The Condemnation of the Jew

2:17Butifyoucallyourself a Jewandrelyon the law101andboastof your relationship toGod1022:18andknowhis will103andapprovethe superior thingsbecause you receive instructionfromthe law,1042:19andif you are convinced105that you yourselfarea guideto the blind, a lightto those who are indarkness,2:20an educatorofthe senseless, a teacherof little children, because you haveinthe lawthe essential featuresof knowledgeandof the truth–2:21therefore106you who teachsomeone else, do younotteachyourself? You who preachagainststealing, do you steal?2:22You who tellothers notto commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor107idols, do you rob temples?2:23Youwhoboastinthe lawdishonorGodbytransgressingthe law!2:24Forjust asit is written, “the nameof Godis being blasphemedamongthe Gentilesbecause ofyou.”108

2:25Forcircumcision109hasits valueifyou practicethe law, but110ifyoubreakthe law,111yourcircumcisionhas becomeuncircumcision.2:26Thereforeifthe uncircumcised manobeys112the righteous requirementsof the law, willnothisuncircumcisionbe regardedascircumcision?2:27Andwill not the physicallyuncircumcised man113who keepsthe lawjudgeyouwho, despite114 the written code115andcircumcision, transgressthe law?2:28Fora person isnota Jewwho is one outwardly, noris circumcisionsomething that is outwardinthe flesh,2:29butsomeone is a Jewwho is one inwardly, andcircumcisionis of the heart116bythe Spirit117andnotby the written code.118This person’s119 praiseis notfrompeoplebutfromGod.

3:19Nowwe knowthatwhateverthe lawsays, it saysto those who are under141the law, so thateverymouthmay be silencedandthe wholeworldmay beheld accountableto God.3:20Forno oneis declared righteousbeforehim142bythe worksof the law,143forthroughthe lawcomes144 the knowledgeof sin.3:21Butnow145apartfrom the lawthe righteousnessof God(which is attestedbythe lawandthe prophets)146 has been disclosed–3:22namely, the righteousnessof Godthroughthe faithfulnessof JesusChrist147forallwho believe. Forthere isno distinction,3:23forallhave sinnedandfall shortof the gloryof God.3:24But they are justified148freelyby hisgracethroughthe redemptionthat is inChristJesus.3:25Godpublicly displayed149him150 athisdeath151as the mercy seat152accessible throughfaith.153This was todemonstrate154hisrighteousness, becauseGod in his forbearance had passed overthe sinspreviously committed.1553:26This was156 also to demonstrate157hisrighteousnessinthe presenttime, so that he would bejust158andthe justifierof the one who lives because ofJesus’ faithfulness.159

The Illustration of Justification

4:1Whatthenshall we saythat Abraham, ourancestoraccordingto the flesh,167has discovered regarding this matter?1684:2ForifAbrahamwas declared righteous169bythe worksof the law, he hassomething to boast about – but not before God.4:3Forwhatdoesthe scripturesay? “AbrahambelievedGod, andit was credited170to himasrighteousness.”1714:4Nowto the one who works, his payisnotcrediteddueto gracebutdueto obligation.1724:5Butto the one who doesnotwork, butbelievesinthe one who declaresthe ungodlyrighteous,173 hisfaithis creditedasrighteousness.

4:9Is thisblessedness178thenfor179the circumcision180oralsofor181the uncircumcision? Forwe say, “faithwas creditedtoAbrahamasrighteousness.”1824:10Howthenwas it creditedto him? Was he circumcisedat the time, ornot? No, he was notcircumcisedbutuncircumcised!4:11Andhe receivedthe signof circumcisionas a sealof the righteousnessthat he had by faithwhile he was still uncircumcised,183so that hewould become184thefatherof allthose who believebut have never been circumcised,185that they too could have righteousnesscreditedto them.4:12Andhe is also the fatherof the circumcised,186who are notonlycircumcised, butwho also walkin the footstepsof the faiththat ourfatherAbrahampossessed when he was still uncircumcised.187

4:23Butthe statementit was creditedto him208wasnotwrittenonlyforAbraham’s209sake,4:24butalsoforoursake, to whomit willbe credited, those who believeinthe one who raisedJesusourLordfromthe dead.4:25He210 was given over211becauseof ourtransgressionsandwas raisedfor the sakeof212 ourjustification.213